Automatic proportionate-feed apparatus



June 17 1924. 1,497,701

A. SCHREIER AUTOMATIC PROPORTIONATE FEED APPARATUS Filed June 11 1921 Mew- 5 @Wzur Jc/zreier;

[TED STATES ARTHUR SCHREIER, OF VIENNA, AUSTRIA, ASSIGNOB 'LO INTERNATIONAL FILTER 60., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATIC PROPORTIONATE-FEED APPARATUSS.

Application filed June'11, 1921. Serial No. 476,850.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR SCHREIER, a citizen of the Republic of Austria, residing at Vienna, Austria, have invented certain s new and useful Improvements in Automatic embodiment upon which the present disclosure is predicated is designed articl ularly for utilization in water puri cation or softening plants, but the apparatus is of special utility also in other varied uses such as the treatment of sewage, condensates and the like.

The present invention is designed to meet the requirements Where the supply of the treated liquid, which hereafter will be referred to as raw water, is subject to variation in quantity or rate of supply, and also Where it is desired to treat large quantities of raw water with relatively small quantities of chemical solutions or suspensions. The general purpose of the invention is the provision of a simple, accurate and sen- 3o sitive mechanism which will maintain auto matically the desired relative proportion of treating material to raw water.

"A more particular object of the invention is to the provision of an apparatus which 5 obviates handlin of the raw water by the feed control mec anism for the purpose of accomplishing the automatic regulation of the chemical feed, thereby adapting the apparatus articularly for use in the treat- 40 ment of iquids containing a large volume of suspended matter.

Another particular object is the provision of an apparatus adapted to control automatically the feed of a plurality of different treating liquids to the raw water.

Astill further object is the rovision of an apparatus which maintains t e accuracy of chemical feed throughout its entire g an urther ob ects reside in the construction arrangements, and combinations of parts hereinafter described, and still further objects will be pointed out hereinafter, indicated in the appended claims, or obvious upon an understanding of the invention from the present disclosure.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, ,I have shown diagrammatically one embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that the same is presented here entirely for illustrative purpose, and that it is not to be construed as limiting the invention as hereinafter claimed, short of its true scope and position in the art.

The drawing is a diagrammatic illustration in the nature of a vertical section of apparatus embodying the principles of my invention.

Described generally, the invention contemplates the provision of a feed regulating apparatus including a regulating tank or receptacle designed to receive a predetermined quantity of liquid, and apparatus controlled by the level of liquid in said tank for controlling the rate of feed of the treating liquid to the raw water. The discharge from the feed regulating tank, and therefore the fall in level of the regulating liquid, is controlled automatically by apparatus responsive directly to variations in the rate of supply of the raw water. The arrangement is such that the rate of discharge of the regulating liquid is independent of the quantity or head of said liquid in the regulating tank, with the result that the discharge of the regulating liquid may always be maintained in accurate proportion to the supply of raw water.

The invention will be better understood by reference to the drawing in detail.

In the drawing the numeral 1 desi ates a treating tank, which may be of suita le Well known construction and properly equipped and adapted for the reception of the raw water and the intermingling therewith of the treating material, which hereafter will be referred to as the chemical. Associated with the treating tank 1 is the head box 2 constituting a feed receptacle into which the raw water is fed from the sup ly conduit 4. The head box has a reduc discharge passage 5 of such area as to permit rise of the surface level of raw water in the head box when the supply thereof is in excess to the discharge through the passage 5. .The head box may be associated with the wheel box 6 in such fashion that the water from the passage 5 may be discharged upon a water wheel 7 in the wheel box, the raw water being discharged from the wheel bog into the tank 1 through the discharge pipe 8. Also associated with the tank 1 is the chemical tank 9 designedto be supplied with the suitable chemical solution or suspension in any suitable manner, as through the pipe 10. An agitating device 11 may be disposed in the chemical tank and coupled with the water wheel 7 by suitable transmission mechanism so as to be driven thereby. The chemical tank is equipped with suitable discharge means, here illustrated b a swinging pipe 12 pivoted at 12 for vertical oscillation, and having an open inlet end 12 adapted to afford flow of. chemical from the tank 9 through the outlet 14 into the treating tank 1. This is a Well known device and will not be described further in detail.

Associated with the chemical tank is a feed regulating tank 15 adapted to be filled to any desired level with a suitable regulating liquid introduced through the pipe 16. Operating in the feed regulating tank is a float 17, the vertical position of which is de, termined by the level of the liquid in said tank. This float 17 is coupled by suitable means 18 with the feed pipe 12 in such fashion that the vertical position of the in let end of said pipe is governed by the vertical position of the float. Discharge of liquid from the feed regulating tank 15 is accomplished through the instrumentality of a discharge means, which includes a pipe 19, a discharge compartment 20 and accessory apparatus now to be described. With the pipe 19 is associated a float controlled valve 7 'stantial means comprises also a proportioning device '65 21, the float 22 of which is responsive to variations in the level of liquid in the compartment 20, so that, upon said liquid reachmg a predetermined level, the valve 21 is closed to prevent discharge of liquid from the tank 15. Upon the liquid in discharge compartment 20 falling below the predetermined level, the valve 21 is opened'to permit the flow of liquid from the tank 15 into the compartment 20. As a result, the liquid in compartment 20 is maintained at a suby constant level. The discharge which includes a float 24. operating in the head box 2, a siphon 25 operating in the compartment 20, and connecting means 26 whereby the vertical position of the outlet of the siphon is governed by the vertical position o the float 24. The siphon is provided with a valve25" whereby flow therethrough may be cut off and liquid retained in it. Said si hon may be arranged to discharge into t e treating tank 1, or otherwise as desired.

In the operation of the apparatus, the chemical tank 9 is filled with the desired quantity of chemical suspension or solution of the requisite strength, and the feed regulatin tank 15 is filled from pi e 16 with the ood regulating liquid, suc as clear water, to a level requisite to position the inlet end of the pipe 12 at the surface of the chemical, whereupon the supply is turned oil". The operation of supp yingthe feed regulating liquid to tank 15 also fills the discharge compartment 20 to the predetermined level, the valve 25 in the siphon being closed to prevent discharge of the liquid therethrough. The supply of water from conduit 4 into the head box 2 then being turned on, the valve 25 is opened and operation of the siphon started substantially simultaneously with the be inning of discharge of raw water into t ie treating tank through the pipe 8. As the regulating liquid is discharged from the compartment 20 throu h the siphon, the level of said liquid in t e tank 15 will fall, thereby lowering the float 17 and the inlet end of the pipe 12, so that chemical will flow from the tank 9 into the treating tank. Upon an increase in the rate of supply through the conduit 4, the level of raw water in the head box 2 will rise, raising the float 24 and lowering the siphon 25. The rate of flow through the si hon at any given time depends upon the di erence in h'ead of the liquid in the discharge compartment 20 between the surface level thereof and the outlet end of the siphon. Since the level of liquid in the compartment 20 is kept constant by the float valve 21, and the position of the outlet end of the siphon is governed by the level of raw water in the head box 2, the rate of flow from the discharge compartment 20 at any given time is determined by the momentary level of raw water in the head box. Since the latter is determined by the momentary rate of supply in conduit 4, and since the rate of discharge of the chemical from the tank 9 is dependent upon the position of the float 17 which is governed by the discharge of liquid from compartment 20, the rate of chemical supply to the treating tank 1 is rendered responsive to the su ply of raw water. As a result, the supp y of chemical is held in an exact and roportionate relation with the quantity 0 water being supplied for treatment and, due to the fact that the entire quantity of raw water supplied is the controlling agency, it results that the feed ofthe chemical, and all variations therein, are more exact, immediate, and sensitive, and more directly responsive than in instances where a small proportion of raw water is depended upon to regulate the feed of chemical. So long as raw water is being supplied to the head box 2, discharge of regulating liquid from tank 15 and of chemical from tank 9 continues, until those tanks are merged. Upon the re-filling of tanks 15 and 9, the above described cycle is again started by'the opening'of valve 25 when thesupply of raw water 1s again turned'on.

The invention possesses many advantages over preceding apparatus. Due to the fact that the raw water is not divided for the.

purpose of regulation, as in by-passing a portion thereof, a more accurate regulation of the chemical feed is attained. This is contributed to also by the utilization of a fall in level of the regulating fluid instead of a rise in the level thereof to govern the feed of the chemical. This rmits a more accurate regulation, less sub ect to disturbing inquantities of regulating, liquid, and there-- fiuences. Moreover the arrangement removes the necessity for passing any of. the raw water through the control apparatus, and this is of particular advantage in the handling of heated water, very turbid water, water carrying a lar e volume of suspended material, such as oi y waters, condensates and water from paper factories or the like, and is of particular advantage in handling various organic fluidssuch as sugar juices. This advantage arises from the entire freedom of the regulating apparatus from the possibility of c ging or incrustation by deposits from the treated liquid. This permits accurate regulation with much smaller ore the control apparatus may be smaller and more economical. v a

.A further distinct advantage of the present invention lies in the fact that it may be utilized to feed a plurality of difierent treating chemicals, each in proper proportion to the feed of raw water. For example, if it is desired to treat with both lime and soda, the milk of lime ma be disposed in the chemical tank 9, while t e soda solution is disposed in the tank 15 and functions both as a treating material and a controllin liquid. Since, as explained above, the disc arge from the siphon. 25 is always proportionate to the made supply of raw water, it is obvious that al-- ways the proper amount of soda solution will be fed into the treating tank from the compartment 20 and regulating tank 15.

I claim:

1. A proportionate ,feed ap aratus comprising the combination wit a treating tank, of a raw water s pp y, a chemical supply, means for retaining a regulating liquid, means responsive to changes in therate of raw water supply for governing discharge of the regulating liquid, and means rendered elfective by discharge of the regulating liquid for governing feed of chemical froilp the chemical supply to the treating tan combination with a receptacle for fluid to be treated of a container for a regulating liquid, means responsive to quantity variations in the receptacle for accomplishing a proportionate discharge of regulating liquid, and means responsive to quantity variations in the regulating liquid 'for governing feed of treating material to the liquid to be treated.

3. In a proportionate feed apparatus the combination of a receptacle for a regulating liquid, chemical feed means controlled by liquid in said receptacle, discharge means for accomplishing a variable discharge of regulating liquid from said receptacle, and means responsive to variations in the su ply of liquid for treatment for varying t e effectiveness of said dischar e means.

4:. In a proportionate fee a paratus the combination with a receptac e for raw 2. In a proportionate feed apparatus the water, of a receptacle for regulating liquid 6 discharge means responsive to variations in the quantity of raw water sup lied to the first named receptacle for discharging liquid from' the second mentioned receptacle, and means for delivering the regulating liquid to the discharge means at a constant level.

5. In a proportionate feed apparatus the combination-of a feed receptacle, a regulating receptacle for reception of a, regulating liquid, discharge means for discharging regulating liquid, a discharge compartment for presenting regulating liquid to the operatlon of the discharge means, and means rendering said discharge means efi'ectively responsive to quantity variations of liquid in the feed receptacle.

6. In a proportionate feed apparatus the combination of a feed receptacle, a chemical supply, a receptacle for a regulating li uid,

means governed by the regulating liqui for varying feed from the chemical supply, and means responsive to variations in feed of liquid to the feed receptacle for accomplishin discharge of the regulating liquid.

In a proportionate feed apparatus the combination with a feed receptacle of a. receptacl'e'for a regulating liquid, and means responsive to variations in the feed of liquid to the feed receptacle for overning dischar e of the regulating liquid.

8. n a proportionate feed apparatus the combination with a source of c emical supply, of a receptacle for a regulating liquid, and means rendered effective by discharge ofthe regulating liquid for accomplishing feed of chemical from the chemical supply. 9. The process of dispensing material in proportion to the rate of supply of a rimary material which resides in provi mg a redetermined volume of re ulating liquid, dischargin said regulatin liquid at a rate bearing a efinite relations ip to the rate at which theprimary material is en plied, and controlling the feed of the (115- signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ARTHUR SCHREIER.

Witnesses SIGMUND BAUER, LoUIs GROQBPE. 

